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Poppy project at tower of london

A fantastic experience, for a great cause…

Last weekend my friend Alex managed to arrange for a group of us to go plant poppies around the Tower of London.

This is a special installation to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the start of the First World War. Artist Paul Cummins created the poppies with a team of volunteer craftspeople. There is one poppy for each of the British men that died – 888,246 in total. Working to meet stage designer Tom Piper’s vision, they have all been planted by volunteers, including the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Oh and me!

It was an amazing experience to be involved in. The funds from selling the poppies after Remembrance Day will go to charities that support service personel.

To find out more about buying a poppy or the installation check out the website here:

View from the public walkway by Tower Hill underground station – the sign explains the installation.

Michaela – our team leader – who lives in the Tower! Those windows behind in the wall are her windows. Her Dad is a yeoman and looks after the Tower’s Ravens. She had lots of stories to tell us about life inside the Tower!

Alex attaching the ceramic poppy to the iron stem

A sea of poppies that other volunteers have planted

Here come the arty shots!:

Our team of volunteers at work

Katie amongst the poppies! With my red T-shirt I blend in.

Looking back over what we helped plant

View around the North side of the Tower

The way the poppies have been designed it looks like a sea – all different heights and scalloped edges – including little insets like this one.

The poppies spilling out of the Tower

Looking towards the river on the West side of the Tower

Some of my friends and fellow volunteers

This area was planted at the start – so now the grass has grown up to poppy height

Can you see the crowds in the background – think we messed up their photos of this!